CASESUCCESSES

Served as co-lead counsel in expedited merger litigation challenging Harleysville’s agreement to sell the company to Nationwide Insurance Company (Nationwide).

Plaintiffs alleged that policyholders were entitled to receive cash in the merger in exchange for their ownership interests in the company, not just new Nationwide policies. Plaintiffs also alleged that the merger was “fundamentally unfair” under Pennsylvania law. The defendants contested the allegations and contended that the claims could not be prosecuted directly by policyholders (as opposed to derivatively on the company’s behalf). Following a two-day preliminary injunction hearing, we settled the case in exchange for a $26 million cash payment to policyholders.